Wilmington residents on Monday mourned the loss of a 19-year-old Banning High School graduate gunned down at a weekend Halloween party just as he was pushing to succeed in college to work as a community activist aiding students and battling crime.

Alex Giovanni Zepeda, who worked as an intern for Harbor Area City Councilman Joe Buscaino three years ago, was remembered as an honor student, star soccer player and role model for younger teens.

Alex Zepeda<br />Courtesy photo

“He always had that, ‘I-can-do-everything’ kind of attitude, and just wanted the best for his mom and his brother,” said Jackie Garcia, the president of SouthWestern Youth Soccer Club, where Zepeda formerly played. “He definitely was going places.”

Police seek help

Zepeda died early Saturday when someone shot him as he stepped outside a house in the 1100 block of West Cruces Street to meet friends. Police said a shooter walked up to him and fired multiple rounds.

Los Angeles police Detective Julie Scruggs said investigators were looking for a motive, and hoped someone would step forward to help them find the killer.

Zepeda’s death stunned those who knew him, including his former soccer coach Frank Sandoval, who spoke softly Monday as he recalled a student-athlete who often sought his encouragement as he struggled to adjust to college academics.

“He had a promising future. His was the brightest because he was determined to finish college,” Sandoval said. ” I told him, ‘Education, you can’t beat it. It’s the key to success in this country.’ ”

Zepeda was a sophomore at Cal State Fullerton, where he majored in criminal justice with a minor in political science, his Facebook page said.

Visited school

Sandoval said Zepeda often stopped at Banning to visit, telling him his college classes were not that easy.

Sandoval said he encouraged Zepeda to work hard, telling him he knew the young man could succeed. The coach said he wanted Zepeda to seek financial aid to live on campus, away from his neighborhood, and eventually try out for the Titans soccer team. Zepeda worked as a shipping clerk at a South Bay aerospace firm.

Banning’s Christian Zavala (18) shakes hands with Alex Zepeda (17) after scoring against San Pedro in a Marine League soccer game Friday, February 06, 2015, San Pedro, CA.<br />Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff Photographer

“I know he was calming down and started getting used to college life,” Sandoval said. “I was glad when he was going to school getting away from here.”

Sandoval recruited Zepeda to play for him at Banning when he was a sophomore. He noticed his outstanding grades and athletic skills. Sandoval described the forward as a “good weapon” who was tough on the field and unafraid of the opposition.

“He was very gifted,” the coach said. “He was very fast. He controlled his ball. Just an outstanding athlete.”

Counselors on campus

Sandoval learned of Zepeda’s death when he arrived at school Monday. Nine members of the current team played with Zepeda before he graduated in 2016.

“Counselors talked to the players and we are going to have a moment of silence before each match, and put his number up on the wall,” Sandoval said.

For Sandoval, it was the third senseless homicide he has had to experience as coach. Watching his players cry Monday was difficult.

“Sometimes I feel like giving up,” he said.

As word of Zepeda’s death spread, friends wrote tributes on Facebook.

“RIP mah boy,” friend Omar Montalvo wrote with an emoji of praying hands. “You (are) in a better place away from all this madness. … Ball up in heaven.”

‘Total shock’

“I am in total shock right now,” Hector Velzaquez wrote. “You were too young and you had many plans. It’s crazy how we were always talking about our plans for our futures. Bro, you were one of the chillest and most outgoing person I know. I just don’t believe my eyes and everything I read. Won’t get to see your dreams come true.”

Alex Zepeda<br />Courtesy of Jackie Garcia

“He (was) such a fabulous student!!” wrote teacher Fran Brown. “Such great personality. He stopped by my last class to share his good fortune at going to Fullerton and motivate my students.”

Garcia said she spoke to Zepeda on Wednesday. He talked about his goals and finishing college.

“He wanted to be become an activist in the community, helping Wilmington students such as him that are in a high-crime environment,” Garcia said. “Very bright. Extremely smart. Definitely a leader.”

Councilman reacts

In a statement, Buscaino said Zepeda’s death “breaks my heart” and deeply angered him. He called Zepeda a “stellar intern with a great work ethic, who never missed a day of work.”

“I knew him to be kind and respectable. He was usually in the office early, and the last to leave. From my perspective he was doing everything right to build a good life for himself, attending Cal State Fullerton and majoring in criminal justice,” Buscaino said.

“There is no possible justification for this vicious, calculated and despicable act of murder. Wilmington is home to some of the most faithful and hard working people in our city, who do not deserve this kind of destruction in their community. While I have confidence that the LAPD will find Alex’s murderers, there is no justice in this world that will bring him back to his family and to his promising future. My deepest condolences go out to his family and friends and to the entire Wilmington community.”

Fundraisers set

A GoFundme page, established to raise money to pay for Zepeda’s funeral, said Zepeda “touched every heart and soul he met” and described him as “one of Wilmington’s best role models.” By midafternoon Monday, the fund had raised $5,500.

Another fundraiser will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Wilmington Jaycee Athletic Complex, 1700 Figueroa St.

Larry Altman has covered crime and court proceedings in Southern California since 1987. A graduate of Cal State Northridge, where he served as editor of the college newspaper, Altman has worked for the Daily Breeze since 1990. The Society of Professional Journalists named him a "Distinguished Journalist" in Los Angeles in 2006. Altman's work was featured twice on CBS' “48 Hours” and he appeared eight times with “Nancy Grace," who called him "dear." He has covered hundreds of homicides and many trials. Altman has crawled through a mausoleum to open a coffin, confronted husbands who killed their wives, wives who killed their husbands, and his coverage helped put a child molester and a murderer in prison. In his spare time, Altman is an avid Los Angeles Lakers and Dodgers fan, is the commissioner of a Fantasy Baseball league with several other current and former newspapermen, runs a real estate empire and likes to watch old movies on TCM.